Folly Inn (bad experience)

[Switch]

I've been to Folly Inn many times and found it usually very good, however, I was there on Saturday and the service (and food) were very poor. We were in a group of seven. Two in our party sent food back and an 'Irish Coffee' was served in a mug! Plates weren't cleared away and the tables were dirty (we had reserved ours). It wasn't particularly busy (I've seen it much busier) there only seemed to be young kids serving and even the duty manager (who we complained to) didn't seem too bothered and admitted she'd been there only a couple of weeks.
It's a real shame as we like to take guests there on our boat - I'll think I'll give it a miss for a while now. Maybe it was just an 'off day' but has any one else had a similar experience there recently?

 

[Scubadoo]

We tried the folly inn again about a month ago and it was okay, nothing like it was a few years ago, but not quite the same experience as you. We tend to eat at Island Harbour restaurant, just a short walk across a field from folly inn basically.

 

[KevB]

Haven't eaten a proper meal in the folly for a year or so, it's a real shame if it's gone down hill. We ate breakfast a couple of times there this year during the isle wight festival and although the food was ok the staff weren't brilliant.

The Breeze at island harbour does some really nice food and great staff but last time we ate there which was about 6 weeks ago it took an hour and 20 mins just to get our starter. Don't mind a wait but the order wasn't taken till about 21:20 so by the time we'd finished eating it was getting on for midnight.
Still a great restaurant though.

 

[lisilou]

We were at the Folly on friday and have to say we had no complaints about either the food or the service. Both were good. We were advised by the berthing master to be patient as the restaurant is short staffed at the moment. It was fairly busy in there but didn't have to wait too long for our food.
L

 

[henryf]

Isn't it funny, we dropped 11 charter guests off there for Saturday lunch and had 3 crew lunches ourselves. Everyone, ourselves included were very happy indeed. My calamari starter in particular was superb.

Everyone was full of praise for large portions and good grub.

Food came out quickly.

It is one of those places which seems to run hot & cold depending on who's running it or on staff.

Henry

 

[Switch]

Isn't it funny, we dropped 11 charter guests off there for Saturday lunch and had 3 crew lunches ourselves. Everyone, ourselves included were very happy indeed. My calamari starter in particular was superb.

Everyone was full of praise for large portions and good grub.

Food came out quickly.

It is one of those places which seems to run hot & cold depending on who's running it or on staff.

Henry

Was that your Princess 50 'Emily Jo' I parked behind Henry?

 

[CharlieAlpha]

That will be the explanation Switch, Henry's guests were absorbing all the service
But I can echo the fact that service is very patchy at the Folly these days but I love the location.

 

[Firefly625]

in recent years when it improved from the dark old days its the place we tend to take folks out for lunch if we just have a few hours spare, and I always think its pretty good & you get what you pay for, its pub grub and service always seems quick and its location is..... well bloody brilliant, but that's the reason we all go isn't it.

 

[girlofwight]

We use the Breeze at Island Harbourma lot, as locals, often by car

Never had a duff meal there, but never had a quick one either! As others have said Folly lives and dies by current management, alas.

 

[Malabar]

We use the Folly a lot as we keep the dinghy there. It certainly suffers from shortage of good staff, but that is partly because on the Isle of Wight there is huge competition for good experienced hospitality staff, and the younger less-experienced workers often have no transport of their own. The nearest bus service is at Whippingham about a mile up a very narrow, twisty and bumpy road. No fun if you end your shift late at night and have to walk 30 minutes to a lonely bus stop. On the other hand the Folly has plenty of character and fantastic views over the river. No problem with the beer and the food is usually worth waiting for. It is certainly no worse than many yacht clubs I have visited. The Folly on a fine summer's evening is just magic. Sitting by the river with a glass of decent beer; a menu you can read and currency that is familiar; no mosquitoes and staff who speak the same language; and you don't have to go near an airport to get there.

 

[[2068]]

We were there on the Bank Holiday Monday.

Food (steaks, fish n chips) was good when it arrived, but it took an hour to arrive, and the kids were trying to eat the table by then. We got our order in fairly early, but it looked as if there just weren't enough staff to cope.